Participating in Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program as a Health Care Provider

The steps to participate in Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program as a health care provider are more simple and straightforward than in some other states.  Hundreds of physicians across the state have qualified so far in the early stages of the program.  However, there are still some qualifications and hoops that are necessary to go through to qualify.  The first step is to create a profile in the Department of Health Physician Registry. Once this is complete, the licensure status will be confirmed with the Department of State.  Physicians must be licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and the license must be in good standing.  The Department of Health may require an explanation of any past disciplinary action.

After validation, you must take an approved four hour course.  The approved training providers can be found at the Department of Health’s website and will count toward your continuing medical education (CME) requirements.  After the course is completed, the Department of Health will review your qualifications.  The Department has significant discretion in determining whether a physician is qualified to treat the major health conditions for which medical marijuana is permissible.  However, this discretion has not to our knowledge been utilized in a restrictive manner thus far.

As noted above, inclusion in the practitioner registry in Pennsylvania is a relatively simple and straightforward process.  However, should additional guidance or assistance be necessary, you are should consult an attorney who is familiar with Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program.